.

.

Day 1: Traces of the Past

Depart early morning by coach for Porvoo, the second oldest town in Finland. The old part of the town is famous for its charming old warehouses, cobblestone lanes, handicraft shops and the medieval cathedral. Lunch will be enjoyed in the old Ruotsinpyhtaa ironworks village, dotted with red 18th-century workers´ dwellings. Next stop will be at Langinkoski rapids where you see the imperial fishing lodge that Czar Alexander III had built on the shore of the roaring rapids. Dinner and overnight at Rantasipi Hotel Valtionhotelli in Imatra. (L,D,O)

Day 2: Stunning Finnish Countryside

Drive through the beautiful Punkaharju esker ridge, an isthmus between two large lakes, and continue to Retretti Art Exhibition featuring classical and contemporary collections, housed partly in an underground cave.  After lunch in Punkaharju you head to Savonlinna to pay a visit to Olavinlinna Castle, the venue of the annual Savonlinna Opera Festival. In the afternoon you visit the eastern orthodox monastery of Valamo in Heinavesi and have a cup of tea brewed in the traditional style in a silver samovar, sweetened with raspberry jam and accompanied by old-Russian delicacies. Continue to Koli Hills, Finland’s best-known spot of natural beauty. From the highest hilltop there is a spectacular view over forests and lakes. Dinner and overnight at Sokos Hotel Koli in Lieksa. (B,L,D,O)

Day 3: Karelian Heritage

Today’s excursion will acquaint you with Karelian culture and traditions. On a visit to a local farmhouse you will experience the friendly hospitality that the Karelians are famous for. See fine examples of wooden architecture and visit exhibitions of local arts and crafts, listen to music played on Kantele, the Finnish folk music instrument, and savour Karelian specialties.  Dinner and overnight at Sokos Hotel Koli in Lieksa. (B,L,D,O)

Day 4: Art and Adventures

On the way to Kuhmo you will stop in Vuonislahti to see the studio and the little log chapel of sculptress Eva Ryynänen, who had a unique talent for making sculptures out of wood. In the Ruunaa wilderness close to the Finnish-Russian border, you have a chance to shoot the rapids on a long wooden boat, steered by local fishermen.  After lunch by a crackling fire, tour proceeds to Kalevala village, which offers a fascinating look at the old traditions of the Karelian people as they were in the 19th century,  a period when the ancient poems of Finland’s national epic, the Kalevala, were collected.  Dinner and overnight at Hotel Kalevala in Kuhmo.  (B,L,D,O)

Day 5: Impressive Landscapes

After guided tour of the village, continue northwards. You see the North-Karelian landscape of hills, lakes, and lush green meadows change to steep cliffs, streams, and wild forests.  Lunch en route.  In Kuusamo, stop to admire a natural sight of astounding beauty, Julma Olkky, the deepest canyon lake in the area. Dinner and overnight at Spa Hotel Kuusamon Tropiikki in Kuusamo. (B,L,D,O)

Day 6: Where Santa Claus is at Home

After breakfast you set off for an excursion to Lake Kitka. Sitting in a rowing boat or standing on the shore, you can watch local fishermen seine-fishing.  If the catch is good, it will be prepared for lunch. On the way to Rovaniemi, you pay a visit to the coffee cup museum. See the key sights of Rovaniemi and visit Santa’s Workshop at the Arctic Circle, meeting the jolly old man in person, and taking part in a Lapp ceremony. Dinner and overnight at Hotel Rantasipi Pohjanhovi in Rovaniemi.

Day 7: Architecture in Lapland

Early morning flight brings you to Rovaniemi, the capital of Finnish Lapland.  During the sightseeing tour you will see works designed by Finland’s most famous architect Alvar Aalto. Crossing the magic line of the Arctic Circle is a great experience for any visitor. To make it truly exotic, you take part in a Lapp initiation ceremony. You will also enjoy lunch at the Arctic Circle, in a Lapp tepee.  Continue northwards along the Ounasjoki River, and stop at the Art Museum of Reidar Sarestoniemi, the most notable Lapp artist who found his motifs in Lapland’s nature. His former studio and home, a complex of log houses, represent traditional Lapp architecture. Dinner and overnight at Hotel Sirkantahti or similar in Kittila. (B,L,D,O)

Day 8: Shooting the Rapids

Properly equipped with a rain gear and a life vest, you set off from Harriniva on board a pneumatic lifeboat on an exciting, yet comfortable and perfectly safe one-hour journey through seven rapids. As you come ashore, nothing will taste better than steaming hot soup served around a glowing campfire. You continue northwards via Kautokeino, the largest Lapp cultural center in Norway.  As you travel, you notice the rolling hills of Finnish Lapland changing into Norwegian tundra.  At last you reach the Arctic Ocean and the fishing port of Alta. Dinner and overnight at Rica Hotel Alta or Similar. (B,L,D,O)

Day 9: North Cape Panorama

Alta is famous for its 5000 to 6000 year-old rock carvings, which are so prestigious that they have been included in the World Heritage List of UNESCO. During a visit to the Alta museum there is a unique opportunity to experience he world of an ancient Lapp depicted in the rock carvings.  Continue towards Honningsvag stopping for lunch on the way. You reach the North Cape in the evening. In front of your eyes opens the Arctic Ocean and the endless scenery. Standing on Europe’s northernmost plateau you celebrate this unforgettable moment with sparkling wine and local caviar. Dinner and overnight at Rica Hotel Honningsvag or Similar. (B,L,D,O)

Day 10: The Past and Present of the Sami People

Enjoy the last glimpses of the awesome northern landscapes, as you head back south driving along one of the most beautiful Norwegian fjords. Lunch will be en route in the little village of Karasjok. Back in Finland, you visit an open air Sami museum in Inari.  Buildings and handicraft collected from different regions of Lapland give you a fascinating look into the life of the nomadic Samis or Lapps of yesterday.  While visiting a local reindeer herder at his home, you will have the opportunity to see how a present day Lapp family lives and treasures the ancient traditions. You will listen to joiku-singing, a chant in the Sami language, and hear the owner of the farm telling you about reindeer breeding. Dinner and overnight at Hotel Riekonlinna in Saariselka. (B,L,D,O)

Day 11: Gold Rush A La Tankavaara

The last stop in northern Lapland is the Tankavaara Gold Village. Relive the thrills of the Gold Rush that once attracted hundreds of men into the region in the hope of finding a gold nugget. Today you will also have the opportunity to try your luck in washing for gold. Lunch will be taken in Luosto on the way to Rovaniemi airport. Evening flight back to Helsinki. (B,L)

B=Breakfast; D=Dinner; O=Overnight    fitstb05